Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduces recommended childhood vaccine list
Federal health officials reduced the childhood immunization schedule from 18 to 11, removing vaccines for RSV, COVID-19 and hepatitis A, among others.
PORTLAND, Ore. — West Coast states are responding to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that reduces the number of vaccines recommended for children. The West Coast Health Alliance warned the move “risks increasing the likelihood of outbreaks of preventable and sometimes deadly diseases.”
On Monday, the CDC rolled back seven childhood vaccines, reducing the recommended immunization schedule from 18 vaccines to 11. Removed from the list were vaccines for chickenpox, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, hepatitis A, meningitis and rotavirus. Some of those vaccines remain recommended for children considered high risk.
Federal health officials said insurance coverage would continue for all previously recommended childhood vaccines, emphasizing that the change is intended to give parents more flexibility and choice, rather than eliminate access.
Many parents said they were disappointed by the updated guidance and plan to continue following their pediatricians’ recommendations.
“I will be vaccinating her as much as possible — both my kids,” parent Jennifer Hoekstra said. “It’s concerning that all of these vaccines are being rolled back. It’s not safe.”
“I’m wildly disappointed,” added parent Theresa Lafavor. “I think it’s harmful to our communities and to the immunity we need to protect people and keep health care costs lower.”
Dr. Claire Ruggeri with Pediatric Associates of the Northwest encouraged parents to consult their children’s pediatricians about the CDC changes. She said her clinic follows guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which continues to recommend the full childhood immunization schedule.
“The CDC’s decisions seem to be made without a lot of transparency, so the reasons for the changes aren’t particularly clear,” Ruggeri said. “My hope is always to keep kids healthy.”
Ruggeri said each vaccine recommended by the AAP is included for a reason. She noted that RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, according to the American Lung Association.
“Those babies get really sick, and with the introduction of the RSV vaccine, we’ve seen huge decreases in severe illness,” Ruggeri said. “Similarly, the rotavirus vaccine protects against a serious diarrheal illness that can lead to dehydration and hospitalization. Those are real-life impacts when you start peeling away vaccines.”
The Oregon Health Authority said it will continue recommending the AAP’s immunization schedule for children and is reviewing the announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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